Andy O'Brien left Tyneside for the Republic of Ireland's date with World Cup destiny last night, convinced Newcastle are capable of catching the Premiership's class acts.

O'Brien, outstanding against Liverpool on Sunday, has seen both Gerard Houllier's Uefa Cup holders and champions Manchester United at first hand this season.

And the fast-improving centre-half insists the Magpies should fear no side, despite a first home defeat in almost seven months.

"We've come up against two of the title favourites and there's not much to choose between them," admitted the former Bradford defender.

"However, I think Newcastle are catching up fast and there won't be too many sides who beat Manchester United at home and create the chances we did against that Liverpool defence this season.

"How we perform over the next few months will depend on how we react to the disappointment of defeat.

"We reacted well after going down against West Ham by hitting back to beat Leicester and we have to do exactly the same at Barnsley (in the Worthington Cup) next week.

"We have to learn how to pick ourselves up and put ourselves back in the right frame of mind.

"It was easier after West Ham because the Leicester game came around so quickly. It's important we don't dwell on the Liverpool defeat for the next week." O'Brien will not have too much time to ponder Sunday's fixture as he prepares for the biggest game in his brief international career.

The 21-year-old is bidding to make Ireland's bench against Cyprus on Saturday when a victory could see Mick McCarthy's men pip Portugal for an automatic World Cup place.

It is a fixture which is dominating the thoughts of every Irishman, but O'Brien already has an eye on Newcastle's post-Liverpool reaction.

"It's easy to be positive when things are going well, but we'll find out about our character when everyone gets back from the internationals," added the former England youth player.

"Staying positive after a game like Sunday's can be difficult. We were very disappointed to go behind and we would have preferred to have clung on for a little longer.

"After their goal we did have a few chances and we played well enough in the first half to give us plenty of encouragement for the future."

Gary Speed is another of Newcastle's international contingent preparing for a World Cup qualifier this weekend and the return of United's Welsh skipper was a welcome sight on Sunday.

"It helps the younger lads to have him back in the squad because you can't buy the kind of experience Speedo has," said O'Brien.